I've waited a few days to post to let the dust settle from Thursday night's debacle. There are some glaring issues with this team and these issues keep rearing their ugly head week to week.
These are:
1) Poor O-Line Play
2) Sloppy, ugly, and poor special teams play in the coverage and return game
3) Inconsistent play by all facets of our defense
4) No Pass rush
On both sides of the ball, issues with the above lead to a snowballing effect and things simply go wrong when execution does not take place. If the O-Line can't pass block, then the QB is under constant duress, like we're seeing. If the specials can't cover kicks and can't produce on the return game, field position will suffer. If there are constant breakdowns in coverage, stopping the run, etc. big plays will occur. And if you have no pass rush, the opposing QB's will have a field day allowing plays to develop, creating outside the pocket, and finding guys open that are improvising. This IS the PERFECT STORM.
I am an Eli apologist, I'll admit it. I was also a Phil Simms and Kerry Collins apologist. I'm loyal. IMO this isn't ALL on Eli - the fans that are going after him are going after him because they need someone to go after. He is SHELLSHOCKED. Suffering from QB PTSD - he feels the rush coming even when it's not because these guys cannot consistently protect him. We know he can make the throws, we know he can make the reads, but when the pass rush is in your head there's NO WAY you can perform to the best of your ability. And FWIW, O-Lines have been struggling all season in the NFL this year, for example Marcus Mariota got DESTROYED yesterday as he and his O-Line absorbed 11 sacks to the Ravens - but in watching other games I saw multiple QB's getting hammered in the pocket, out of it, and while running for their lives b/c pass rushers are really getting a leg up on opposing O-Lines this year - JUST NOT OURS!
Yes, Eli is to blame for some of this, but not all of it. Calling for a QB change is ridiculous, but it would be nice to see Lauletta late in some games down the road. I think if a QB is there this year when we make our first round pick, we take him as long as he's the guy that will come in and fit Shurmur's system.
But overall, this is an entire systemic, locker room issue with this team. It's not one guy, it's all of these breakdowns that are occurring basically every week, and this team needs to correct them ASAP so that the fan base doesn't turn on them further!
I don't understand what the F is going on with this organization.
The 2 consistent factors have been: Eli Manning and Tom Quinn. Quinn should be banned forever, but I, too, am an Eli apologist. I'm in full agreement that his internal clock is messed up. It has nothing to do with mobility and everything to do with trust.
My solution on offense is to forget balance and focus/concentrate/improve on one thing. If we think Eli is the weak link, then take him out of the equation by limiting his influence. RUN THE BALL. Win or lose. Run, run and run some more. Shurmur needs to be stubborn about it until the OL gets it. And once they do "get it", and Saquon is running wild, it will open up play-action. Let Eli get comfortable again, and eventually open up the passing plays gradually. We almost have to deconstruct Eli and build him back up again, but it all starts with the OLine.
This teams performance, despite Saquon s obvious brilliance has only solidifed for me how badly the Giants need or needed a young quarterback.
I think DG and Shurmur were willing to say what the owners and fans wanted to hear and they made a major mistake. Team was not close at all and their miscalculation will set this rebuild back for some time. The real problem is that Mara will retain them both to give them a chance and hope that they can turn this around.
QBs like Eli can only survive with above average OL which is difficult to maintain.
I have kept hope alive with returning to promise land obe more time with Eli.
Mariota was a perfect example. 11 sacks, zero TDs.....a total mess.
We must get a more mobile QB, period.
Posters calling for a QB change aren't looking to win immediately now...they are looking to eventually win.
wake up my man...
This team needs to stop reminiscing about the past (now ancient history) and start evaluating the 4th rd pick for real.
He's 37 and he hasn't played well in years. I don't think there is any building him back up again at this point. It only continues to get worse from here.
Trust the process
Draft the best OL and Edge Rushers in the draft. Take a QB in the 1st RD so everybody can shudup about it. We need to be able to run the ball and stop the run with pressure on the QB.
How many can say we are competitive and improved?
That's why you get an older LT who will certainly be on the decline when the Gmen get good.
That's hwy you sign Stewart.
That's hwy you traded for Ogeltree.
The perfect storm had to do with the incompetence of the organization. It could all work out though. They just have to continue to really stink.
How many can say we are competitive and improved?
You believe what you choose to ...
How many can say we are competitive and improved?
Can you please link the press conference where either DG or Shurmur said we would be competitive this year?
Would it have been nice to have drafted a franchise QB that we could just replace Eli with now that we know what we know? Sure, but that means we wouldn't have Barkley & I'd still rather have him than any of the QBs in the draft. Let's roll with what we have this year. Cut loose the dead weight and continue to draft good players that will contribute to this team. It's sad that the time has come to draft Eli's replacement, but time waits for no man.
Mara has blown multiple chances to get it right. Now the hole is so deep that it is going to take at least a couple of seasons to dig out. DG has made a good start despite some mis-steps, but there's a TON of work to do yet, starting with getting Tom Quinn the hell out of here.
Besides, the team has been loyal to him for several years now.
It's time to move on, to see how much offensive malaise is attributable to Eli versus the rest of the problems out there.
Quote:
we were sold a bill of goods, that said this team would be competitive and improved....
How many can say we are competitive and improved?
Can you please link the press conference where either DG or Shurmur said we would be competitive this year?
DG did say "Eli has enough in the tank."
And he said regaridng Eli that last year;s 2nd Philly wasn't a mirage.
And he said Eli makes his teammates or team better.
You can infer that he expected the team to be competitive enough to not be this pathetic.
If you weren't going to be competitive in 2018 and probably not going to be that competitive in 2019, what was the point of overpaying heavily for an older left tackle?
By the time the team starts to be very competitive, SOlder will be declining, right?
Why trade two picks for Ogeltree?
If you know you aren't going to be competitive, why bring back Eli and then waste so much money on an older LT in Solder?
I suspect they are complicit in their belief of this team in 2018, sure.